In 1843, the Trappists obtained a grant of 2500 acres of land on the site of the Battle of Staouéli (fought on 19 June 1830, during the French conquest of Algeria). Here they have built a monastery where some 100 monks lived and worked. On the wall of the monastery is the inscription: S'il est triste de vivre à la Trappe, qu'il est doux d'y mourir (While it is sad to live here, it is sweet to die here).